Portable valve seat grinding means



Mdy 11, 1943.

i E. A. HALL PORTABLE VALVE SEAT GRINDING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNOV. 10, 1941 IE-lgww fmrEsTAfiqLL May 11, 1943. E. A. HALL PORTABLEVALVE SEAT GRINDING MEANS Filed Nov. 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 u wsigmyw MW a May 11, 1943. E. A. HALL PORTABLE VALVE SEAT GRINDING MEANSFiled NOV. 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 EENEE TA- HALL Patented May 11,1943 PORTABLE VALVE SEAT GRINDING MEANS Ernest A. Hall, Toledo, Ohio,assignor to The Hall Manufacturing Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application November 10, 1941, Serial No. 418,432

5 Claim.

This invention relates primarily to the grinding of valve seats in"Globe and similar type valves used in high pressure fluid lines.

In such valves, it is necessary to have the seats perfectly ground toprevent leakage under high pressure, and in accomplishing such grindingit is necessary to remove the valve housing cap and with it the seatingor plug member of the valve and its carrying stem to permit introductionof a portion of the grinding tool into the valve housing in position forthe grinding member to have engagement with the valve seat. In manyfluid pressure line installations, particularly in Navy vessels, thevalves are welded into the line so that it is impossible to remove thevalves for replacement or to transport to a convenient place forrefacing the valve seats. In other cases, the valves can only be removedfrom the line at a considerable expense both in money and labor. It is,therefore, important to have a valve seat refacing tool which can beconveniently used at the point of installation of a valve Withoutdisturbing the installation and which is capable of adaptation to valvesof various sizes and designs and of having its grinding medium properlypositioned relative to the valve seat to eilect the desired facingthereof.

An object of the invention is the provision of a novel, simple andeflicient valve seat grinding tool of the eccentric type adaptedparticularly for attaching to globe type valves or the like and grindingthe seats thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool suitable forrefacing internal valve seats of globe type valves or the like, togetherwith means for use in connection therewith for rigidly mounting the toolon a valve housing with its facing element projected therein in valveseat facing position and maintaining the tool, but not necessarily thefacing element, in proper centered relation to the seat.

Another object of the invention is the provision in combination with aneccentric valve seat grinding tool, wherein the grinding wheel is drivenat high speed about its shaft axis and the shaft axis itself is slowlyrevolved, of simple and novel means operable to disconnect the shaftfrom its revolving drive source without affecting the high speed drivingof the shaft.

Another object of the invention is the proing adjustment, has moved intoengagement with a valve seat and the frictional resistance to a freeturning of the grinding wheel effected by such engagement, thusfacilitating and simplifying the use of tools of this characterparticularly when operating on seats that cannot be seen duringgrinding, as in the case of globe type valves or the like.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and twoembodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a view of one form of grinding tool mounted in operativegrinding relation to the valve seat of a globe" type of valve with thevalve and a portion of the tool in central longitudinal section on theline ll in Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 22 in Fig. 1,with parts in full; Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of two of the gearmembers of the transmission shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a centrallongitudinal section of a different form of grinding tool with adapterattached and with parts in full; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 inFig. 5; Fig, '7 is a reduced side elevation of the tool and adaptershown in Fig. 5, with a part broken away; Fig. 8 is a bottom end viewthereof with a part broken away; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectionon the line 99 in Fig. 7, with the motor partly broken away; Fig. 10 isa side elevation of the tool in operative attachment to a fluid linevalve, with parts of the tool and valve broken away; Fig. 11 is adiagram of the wiring and ammeter used in connection with the toolmotor, and Fig. 12 is a face view of a portion of an ammeter indicatinga motor torque reading thereon.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a valve which may be of theglobe type, disposed in a fluid pressure line B and having aninternaltapered valve seat 5 and in one side of its housing an opening 2through which the plug member of the valve is introduced and controlled,as well understood in the art. In Fig. 1 this valve is 01. angle typewhile in Fig. 10 it is of straight type. When the valve is in use, theopening 2 is closed by a gland plate f not shown) through which thevalve stem projects and which is held to the housing flange by suitablescrews or bolts. The flange 3 is of annular form and, in addition toforming the opening 2, is customarily recessed at its inner top edge toform a gasket seat 4. The openings 2 and flanges 3 for various valvesare of different sizes and types, as well understood in the art.

A valve seat grinding tool C is intended to have its grinding wheelcarrying end projected into a valve housing into valve seat grindingposition through the housing opening 2 and is adjustably mounted on thehousing in centered relation to its valve seat by an adapter D, which isseated on and rigidly secured to the flange 3.

The adapter D, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, comprises a collar 6having an annular flange l for seating on and being secured to the valvehousing flange 3 by screws ii. The collar 6 has at its inner end a part9 for fitting into the opening of the housing flange 3 and forcooperating with the wall thereof to center the adapter relative to thevalve seat, and also has a part H) for seating in the recess 4. Thecollar 6 has its internal surface, as well as the external surface ofthe part 9 and seating surface of the part l0, machined to fit the partswith which they coact.

A guide sleeve H is mounted in the collar 6 and preferably projected atits inner end beyond the part 9 to near the valve seat to be ground,while its outer end is flanged over and rigidly secured to the outer endof the collar 6 by screws l2, or in any other suitable manner. Thisguide sleeve is preferably machined inside and out to adapt it toclosely fit the collar 6 and to provide a smooth bore which i perfectlycentered relative to the housing opening 2 and form a guide in which thegrinding tool C may be mounted for feeding movements axially of thevalve seat during a seat grinding operation, as hereinafter described.

In the grinder shown in Figs. 1 to 4, l designates the gear case havingthe tubular extension I5 at one end for fitting into and having axialreciprocator movements in the guide sleeve II. A motor housing i1 ismounted on the opposite end of the gear case in offset relation to itscenter. In the present instance. the inner end portion of the motorhousing forms a cover for the gear case and is removably mounted thereonin any suitable manner.

The tubular extension l6 opens at its inner end into the gear case, andits inner surface forms a bearing for a rotatable sleeve which extendsat its upper end into the gear case l5 and at its lower end slightlybelow the extension l6. An annular flange 2| near the inner end of thesleeve has bearing engagement with the inner end of the extension IB,preferably through a gasket, and is engaged within the gear case inopposition to such bearing by a flanged collar or plurality of clips 22secured within the case. A collar 23 is mounted on the outer end of thesleeve 2|) to coact with the extension Ill in opposition to the bearingflange 2| toprevent axial movements of the sleeve relative to theextension.

The sleeve 26 has an eccentric bore in which a grinding wheel carryingshaft 25 is mounted for relative rotary movements in suitable inner andouter bearings 26 provided therein. A grinding wheel 21 is carried bythe outer end of the shaft 25 without the outer end of the eccentricsleeve 20 and is suitable for grinding a valve seat I into which it maybe projected. The shaft 25 at its inner end is connected by a flexibleshaft 28 to the hub or shaft of a gear 29 that is suitably mounted forfree rotary movements in the inner gear case covering end of the motorhousing H.

The drive motor armature shaft 80, that is mounted in the housing H, hasits inner end projected through a bearing 3| in the inner end of thehousing and into the gear case l5 where it carries a gear 32 in drivingengagement with the gear 29. The motor shaft also carries a small wormgear 33 in driving engagement with a large worm wheel 34 (Fig. 2), whichlatter is on the hub or shaft of a worm 35 mounted crosswise ell withinthe gear case and in driving mesh with a worm wheel 36 on the inner endof the eccentric sleeve 20. The gear connections of the motor shaft withthe grinding wheel shaft 25 and with the eccentric sleeve 20 are suchthat the grinding wheel is driven at high speed, preferably about 5,000to 10,000 R. P. M., while the eccentric sleeve is driven at a slow speedof approximately 6 to 30 R. P. M., thus effecting a slow revolublemovement of the grinding wheel shaft axis while the grinding wheelitself is rotating at a high speed about such axis for the purpose wellunderstood in connection with eccentric valve seat grinders of thischaracter.

The feed means for the tool 0, by which it is advanced or retracted inthe adapter D to efiect movement of the grinding wheel 21 toward or awayfrom a valve seat, comprises, in the present instance, a screw 40 whichprojects down through a side opening in the gear case and is threadedinto the flanged upper end of the adapter guide sleeve. The screw 40 ismounted in a manner to prevent axial movements thereof relative to thegear case, but is adapted to have rotary move ments therein. It is thusapparent that a turnmg of the screw 40 will ause lengthwise movement ofthe tool in one direction or the other in the guide sleeve I I. Thescrew 40 at its outer end is provided with a hand wheel ll to facilitatehand turning thereof.

In the use of tools of this character, it is important that the grindingwheel have only light engagement with the valve seat when the grindingoperation is started and that the feed of the grinding wheel to the seatbe very gradual as the grinding progresses, so as not to cause injury tothe seat. In blind grinding operations such as illustrated, where thegrinding wheel and valve seat being ground cannot be viewed during asetting or grinding operation, it is important to have some means otherthan the tool feeding means for determining when the grinding wheel isin engagement with the seat and, within limits, the pressure or force ofsuch engagement, or the resistance offered by the engagement to arelative turning of the grinding wheel. Two means for determining thisare preferably but not necessarily used together, one being manuallyoperable and enabling th operator to determine by "feel, if the grindingwheel is in engagement with the valve seat and the approximate pressureof such engagement, and the other being automatic and of an electricnature to indicate, through torque or load on the motor, when thegrinding wheel is in engagement with a valve seat and the force of suchengagement.

For the purpose of manual control, the outer end of the motor shaft 30is projected through the outer end of the motor housing I! and providedin exposed position with a small knob or wheel adapted to be grasped andturned by a hand of the operator. By turning or attempting to turn theknob 45 when the motor is at rest, the operator can determine if thegrinding wheel is free from engagement with the valve seat and, if inengagement therewith, the approximate torque or load on the motor toeffect a turning of the grinding wheel. It is apparent with this meansthat the motor shaft may be quite freely turned if the grinding wheel isfree from engagement with the valve seat and that the resistance to suchturning determines the approximate extent of engagement of th grindingwheel with the valve seat.

It is possible, during such a turning of the moand 2.

tor shaft, to disconnect the shaft from the eccentric sleeve so that theforce required to turn the motor shaft will thereby be reduced, thusmaking the resistance to a turning of the motor shaft more sensitive tothe feel of the operator than would otherwise be the case. It is alsonecessary to disconnect the eccentric sleeve 20 from the driving sourceduring a diamond dressing of the grinding wheel so the axis of the wheelwill be stationary during such action. To accomplish this, the motor isdisconnected from the eccentric sleev 20 by the provision of areleasable clutch means between the gear wheel 34 and the hub portion ofthe worm 35 on which it is mounted, as shown in Fig. 2. In this connection, a clutch pin projects from within the hub portion of the worm 35into a keyway 5| in the hub of the gear 34 and is shiftable in saidkeyway and in a slot in the worm hub into and out of register with anannular recess 52 in the wheel hub, so that when-the pin is in registerwith said recess the gear wheel may turn freely on the worm and when thepin is in the keyway 5| the wheel is in driving connection with theworm. The movement of the pin 50 is controlled by a rod 53 whichprojects axially through the worm and has one end at least exposed andprovided with a hand grip or knob 54. This rod is yieldingly held in oneposition or the other of its movement by a spring pressed detent 55 inthe worm engaging either one or the other of a pair of recesses 56 inthe rod.

After a grinding tool and adapter have been mounted on a valve casingpreparatory to grinding a valve seat, it is preferable in practice tofirst turn the feed adjustment to move the grinding wheel intoengagement with a valve seat, which engagement can be determined by"feel" by a turning of the knob 45, and then to back the tool offslightly to release the grinding wheel from engagement with the valveseat, which condition can be determined by a free turning of the motorshaft. The operator. of course upon a feeding adjustment of the tool.can determine when the grinding wheel has moved into stop engagementwith the valve seat by the resistance offered to a further turning ofthe feed screw. It is found, however, that this adjustment, due to thepresence of the screw action, is so powerful in its nature that it isnot sufficiently sensitive, by

"feel on the part of the operator, for him to determine, to any suchdegree of nicety as is necessary, the extent of pressure engagement ofthe grinding wheel with the valve seat. For this reason, it is highlydesirable, particularly where fine work is required, to provide somemeans entirely independent of the feeding adjustment which is operableto indicate the pressure of the grinding wheel against the valve seatwhen the motor is at rest and also some means to indicate such pressurduring a grinding operation.

The electrical indicating means employed, which is responsive topressure of the wheel against the seat and is only active during agrinding operation, consists in interposing an ammeter in the circuitwith the motor, so that any variation in the motor torque can bedetermined to a nicety by the ammeter reading. Such a circuit withammeter and motor therein is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 11, and Fig.12 illustrates the reading portion of an ammeter. When the motor isrunning free with the grinding wheel out of engagement with the valveseat, the ammeter reading, for instance, will be between "1" When thegrinding wheel is brought into engagement with the valve seat, thereading will be increased according to the extent of frictionalengagement of the wheel with the seat.

"This means is found very effective in determining when the wheel is inengagement with a valve seat and the extent of such engagement, and willalso visually indicate to the operator when a seat has been groundsufficiently to remove all irregularities or high spots therein and tomake it perfectly round for efficient valve seating purposes.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 10, the motor ismounted at a side of the tool instead of at an end, and its shaft istransverse to the grinding wheel shaft instead of parallel thereto as inthe form previously described. In this form of the invention, theadapter and its manner of feeding connection with the tool are alsoshown as changed over the form of adapter and feeding connection shownin the previous figures.

In Figs. 5 to 10, the fluid line valve is designated A the same asbefore, the grinding tool is designated C and the adapter is designatedD'.

The adapter D comprises a guide sleeve 60 having a cylindrical boretherein for receiving and guiding the feeding movements of the shankportion of the tool housing and has its outer end formed with a flangeBl for seating over the flange of the valve casing which forms theopening through which access to the valve seat may be had and which isadapted to be secured to such casing by screws 62 (Fig. 10). The outerend of the guide sleeve 60 is also provided with an annular projection63 for fitting into the depression 4 of the valve casing to center thesleeve relative to the valve seat.

The housing of the tool C forms a gear case 65 which is closed at itsouter end by a cap member 66 and is provided at its inner end with acylindrical extension 61 forming the shank portion of the tool which isfitted in and guided by the adapter sleeve 65. A shaft 10 carries thegrinding wheel H and projects through and is suitably mounted for freerotary movements in the eccentric bore of a sleeve I2, which in turn ismounted for rotary movements in the cylindrical extension 51. Theeccentric sleeve 12 is held against axial movements in the extension 61by a projection 13 on the inner side of the gear case cover 66projecting inwardly through the gear case and engaging an annular flangeII on the inner end portion of the sleeve. A shaft section 15 is mountedin the cover 56 through a cylindrical outward extension 16 thereon withits axis parallel to that of the shaft I0 and centered with that of theeccentric sleeve 12. The shaft 15 projects at its inner end into thegear case and is connected to the inner end of the shaft 16 by aflexible shaft section 'll extending through the gear case.

The motor has its housing mounted on a side of the gear case with itarmature shaft 8| projected into the gear case and in driving connectionwith the inner end of the shaft 15 through a pair of bevel gears 82,thus providing a drive for the grinding wheel shaft from the motor. Themotor shaft Bl also carries a frame gear'fl3 in mesh with a worm 84mounted crosswise in the gear case 85 at a side of the inner end of theeccentric sleeve 12 and in mesh with a gear 85 on said sleeve, as shownin Figs. 5, 6 and 9. It is thus apparent that the grinding wheel shaftis driven at high speed and the eccentric sleeve is driven at a verymuch slower speed.

The feed adjusting means for the tool C includes a yoke 90 having at itsinner end a collar ll which receives the inner end of the adapter sleeve60 and i attached thereto by screws 92. These screws are threaded in thecollar and preferably engage at their inner ends in an annular recessinthe sleeve 60 to permit the tool to be turned relative to the adapterto a position which is most suitable for the particular application, andto allow for interchangeability of various other size adapters. Arms 93project in parallel relation outwardly from the collar 9| at oppositesides of the gear housing 6| of the tool and are attached at their outerends to a collar 94, which is rotatably engaged with the inner end of anut which is threaded on the outward extension 16 of the gear case cover66 for lengthwise adjustment thereon. The collar 94 is rotatably held inengagement with the sleeve 95 by a ring 96, that is threaded on theouter end of the nut 95 and held in proper adjusted relation thereto bya set screw 91 (Fig. 5). The ring 96 forms a hand grip which facilitatesturning of the nut 95 on the extension 16 to cause axial adjustment ofthe tool in one direction or the other relative to the adapter D and theattached feed yoke 90.

In this form of tool, the outer end of the shaft section of the grindingwheel shaft is projected beyond the outer end of the housing extensionHi, and is provided at such end in ex posed position with a knob orsmall hand Wheel I00 which may be grasped by a hand of the operator andturned to efiect a turning of the grinding wheel, so as to determine byfeel the relation of the grinding wheel to the seat to be ground, or theextent to which the grinding wheel is engaged with the valve seat.

For the purpose of disconnecting the eccentric sleeve 12 from the motordrive to facilitate hand turning of the grinding wheel shaft, the worm84 has a loose eccentric mounting on its shaft I05, as shown in Fig. 6,so that the gear, by a turning of the shaft, may be thrown into or outof mesh either with the drive gear 83 or the driven gear 05. The shaftI05 has one end projecting without the gear case 65 and provided with acontrol lever I06 which, when moved to the right in the direction of thearrow in Fig. 10, effects a release of the worm 84 from the gear 85. Itis also necessary to disconnect the eccentric drive means from the motorduring a dressing operation on the grinding wheel.

In the use of either tool embodying the invention, the particularadapter D or D' is rigidly attached to the valve casing, and therebyplaced in centered relation to the valve seat to be ground. The valvegrinding tool, if not already in the adapter, is mounted therein byplacing its cylindrical shank portion within the guide sleeve of theadapter end in one case connecting the adjusting screw 40 to the adapterand in the other case attaching the feed adjusting yoke 90 to the innerend of the adapter sleeve. The feed means is then adjusted in one caseby turning the screw 40 and in the other case by turning the adjustingnut 95, so as to feed the grinding wheel toward and into stop engagementwith the valve seat. The operator then, before starting the grindingoperation, turns the feed back slightly to relieve the pressure of thegrinding wheel against the seat a desired extent, which is determined bythe resistance encountered upon a turning of the grinding wheel throughhand engagement of the turning knob in one case and I00 in the other. Inthis manner, the operator may determine if the grinding wheel isentirely released from engagement with the seat, which is usuallydesirable before starting a grinding operation. or to what extent, as topressure, it is engaged therewith. The grinding wheel having been placedin proper initial adjustment to the valve seat, the motor is started andthe feed means operated to slowly feed the grinding wheel intoengagement with the work and to intermittently continue such feedingoperation as the grinding progresses and until completed. The operatorcan determine by the ammeter reading if the grinding wheel is inengagement with the seat face and also the pressure of such engagement.If the grinding wheel, upon starting the motor, is free from engagementwith the valve seat, the ammeter will indicate a reading, for instance,between 1" and 2, and this reading is increased as the grinding wheel isfed into engagement with the valve seat and in accordance with theextent or pressure of such engagement. During grinding the ammeter willfluctuate several points, and upon completion of the grinding operationthe reading will return to approximately the free running indication andwill hold steady, showing that the valve seat has been ground to perfectcircular form. A skilled operator can always determine the condition ofthe valve seat during a grinding operation by merely watching theammeter, thus obviating the time consuming operation of removing thegrinding means at intervals from the article being ground so as toenable the condition of the valve seat to be determined by a separatetesting operation.

I Wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specificconstruction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable ofnumerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit ofthe claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. In a portable valve seat grinding machine, a grinding wheel carryingshaft, means without said shaft and forming a rotatable eccentric mounttherefor, said means and shaft being relatively rotatable about axesparallel to each other, a power source, separate driving connectionsbetween said source and each of said shaft and means, the connectionwith said means including a train of gears, and means manually operableto connect or disconnect the driving connection between certain of thegears in the train and including a worm and a worm wheel together wit aneccentric mount for the worm which is revoluble to throw the worm intoor out of engagement with its companion.

2. In a portable valve seat grinding tool, a housing having a tubularguide extension, a grinding wheel carrying shaft projected from thehousing through said extension, mean mounting said shaft for independentrotatable and revoluble movements in said extension, an adapter forrigid attachment to a valve casing in concentric relation to its valveseat to be ground and having a means for receiving and guiding saidextension for feeding movements of the tool relative to the adapter andaxially of the shaft, and means connecting said adapter and housing andoperable to effect feeding movements of one relative to the other.

3. Ina portable valve seat grinding tool, a housing having a tubularguide extension, a grinding wheel carrying shaft projected from thehousing through said extension, means mounting said shaft forindependent rotatable and revoluble movements in said extension, anadapter for rigid attachment to a valve casing in concentric relation toits valve seat to be ground and forming a means for receiving andguiding said extension for feeding movements of the tool relative to theadapter and axially of the shaft, said adapter including a collar forattaching to the work and a removable bearing sleeve mounted in andprojected through said collar and held thereby in concentric relation tothe valve seat to be ground and forming the guide bearing for the toolextension, and means connecting said adapter and housing and operable toeffect feeding movements of one relative to the other.

4. In a portable valve seat grinding tool, a housing having a tubularguide extension, a grinding wheel carrying shaft projected from thehousing through said extension, means mounting said shaft forindependent rotatable and revoluble movements in said extension, anadapter for rigid attachment to a valve casing in concentric relation toits valve seat to be ground and forming a means for receiving andguiding said extension for feeding movements of the tool relative to theadapter and axially of the shaft, said adapter including a guide sleevefor attaching to the valve casing and an element rotatably carriedthereby and embracing a part of the tool housing in axially spacedrelation to said extension, and screw means connecting said housing andsaid adapter element and operable in conjunction with the latter toeiTect feeding movements of the housing relative to the adapter.

5. In a portable valve seat grinding tool, the combination with ahousing having a cylindrical guide extension, a bearing sleeve mountedfor concentric rotation in said extension, a grinding wheel carryingshaft projecting through and mounted for rotation in said sleeveeccentric to the axis of rotation of the sleeve, and means for rotatingsaid sleeve and shaft at difierent speeds, of an adapter for rigidattachment to the work in concentric relation to its valve seat t beground and forming sleeve means for receiving and guiding said extensionfor feeding movements of the tool relative to the adapter and axially ofsaid shaft, and means connecting the tool housing and adapter andoperable to eiTect feeding movements of one relative to the other.

ERNEST A. HALL.

